Barack Obama has officially endorsed Hillary Clinton, presumptive nominee for the Democratic party, for president. In a video clip released today, June 9, by Clinton’s campaign, he said: “I don’t think there’s ever been someone so qualified to hold this office.”
Obama said, “She’s got the courage, the compassion, and the heart to get the job done. And I say that as someone who had to debate her more than 20 times.” He praised Clinton’s judgement and her toughness. He repeated Clinton’s slogan “I’m with her” and said he was “fired up” to join her campaign.
The current US president has not involved himself in the Democratic primary process until now, although he had hinted he would support Clinton, his former secretary of state. He has, however, attacked the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump.
Obama met with Clinton’s opponent, Bernie Sanders, earlier today. After the meeting, Sanders announced that he would continue to campaign until the Washington DC primary next week, but that he was ready to help Clinton in her fight against Trump. In his endorsement of Clinton, Obama gave a nod to Sanders supporters, thanking the Vermont senator for shining a light on economic inequality and the influence of money in politics, and for mobilizing young people to take part in the election. The key agenda for the Democrats now will be to unify their supporters, bitterly divided in the bruising primary campaign.